The U.S. Department of Energy held the third in a series of hearings this week on the project.

Most of the people at the meeting said they were opposed to the initiative, but some people, including small-business owners, said the power line project would be great for the area and bring jobs to their businesses.

“I can tell you that most of the people in my community either support it or have no opinion of it,” Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier said.

The project has been a hot-button issue for many years.

“The message is very clear,” said Ray Burton of the New Hampshire Executive Council. “The people at the local level don’t want this project.”

“The working people deserve to have jobs and there’s a lot of benefits to the people of Coos County here,” Grenier said. “That’s why I’m such an ardent supporter of the project.”

Allen Bouthillier owns a small business that employs about 25 people in Coos County. He said the project, which is estimated to cost upwards of $1.4 billion, will help boost the local economy.

“I’m tired of seeing all the young people leaving the area because there’s a lack of jobs, a lack of everything they have below the Notch, and we need the work,” Bouthillier said.

Most of the people in attendance argued that the towers that would need to be installed have significant environmental costs and would also lower the property values of Granite State homes.

Every single board of selectmen has voted against Northern Pass, opponents said.

Another meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Colebrook from 5 to 8 p.m.

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